Mixing vacuum

Abstract

A vacuum assembly includes a vacuum portion having a vacuum source with an inlet and an outlet and a tank portion. A three-way inlet valve fluidly connects the inlet to the vacuum source with the tank portion when in a first position and fluidly connects the inlet to the vacuum source with an inlet to a surrounding environment when in a second position. A three-way outlet valve fluidly connects the outlet of the vacuum source with an outlet to the surrounding environment when in a first position and the outlet of the vacuum source with the tank portion when in a second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum assembly comprising:
 a vacuum portion including a vacuum source having an inlet and an outlet;   a tank portion;   a three-way inlet valve fluidly connecting the inlet to the vacuum source with the tank portion when in a first position and fluidly connecting the inlet to the vacuum source with an inlet to a surrounding environment when in a second position; and   a three-way outlet valve fluidly connecting the outlet of the vacuum source with an outlet to the surrounding environment when in a first position and the outlet of the vacuum source with the tank portion when in a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way inlet valve and the three-way outlet valve are located in an intermediate portion. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein intermediate portion defines a pressurizable chamber upstream of the inlet to the vacuum source. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate portion is attached to the tank portion on a first end and the vacuum portion on a second end. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the intermediate portion is removably attached to the vacuum portion on a first end and the tank portion on a second end. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tank portion is supported on wheels. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , including a suction line fluidly connecting a debris collector and the tank portion. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , including a mixing tube fluidly downstream of vacuum source when the three-way outlet valve is in the second position and the mixing tube extends into the tank portion. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mixing tube includes an outlet at a distal end. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tank portion is cylindrical and the mixing tube extends in a direction having a circumferential component relative to a circumference of the tank portion. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the mixing tube includes an outlet at a distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , include a turbulence generating projection extending from an inner wall of the tank portion. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the turbulence generating projection extends at least 50% of a height of the tank portion. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the turbulence generating projection extends less than 50% and more than 10% of a diameter of the tank portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a vacuum assembly, the method comprising:
 generating a negative pressure within a tank portion of the vacuum assembly with a vacuum source when a three-way inlet valve is in a first portion and a three-way outlet valve is in a first portion; and   mixing debris within the tank portion with positive pressure from the vacuum source when the three-way inlet valve is in a second position and the three-way outlet valve is in a second position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an inlet to the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the tank portion when in the first position and a surrounding environment when in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein an outlet to the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the surrounding environment when in first position and the tank portion when in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the positive pressure passes through a mixing tube when the three-way outlet valve is in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the positive pressure passing through the mixing tube generates a vortex within the tank portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a turbulence generating projection extends from an interior wall of the tank portion.